Chapter Thirteen: Master Manipulation

Veronica felt as if she was in a horror story and the murderer had just entered her home. She turned around and froze. What was she going to say? What could she say? Her mind went blank. Her throat grew dry and all she could do was stand there and stare. Lance had dropped his arms and they were now uncrossed. He let out a deep breath and walked over to her. 

Thump, Thump, Thump went her heart. It seem to grow louder the closer he got. Thump, Thump, Thump. 

He stopped in front of her and glared. The fury and rage was evident in his eyes. If looks could kill, well Veronica would be dead meat. She somehow managed to find her voice or part of it. 
"Lance.." She said shakily. 
"I told you not to touch the phone, didn't I?" He asked. His spoke slowly as if talking to a child, but his voice was cold. Cold enough to send a chill up Veronica's spine. Her voice had abandoned her again and all she could do was nod. 
"Then what were you doing?" He asked and pointed towards the phone, which was still swinging. 
"I.." Her voice was coming back little by little. Think! She yelled at her brain. Say something! "uh..I wanted to call my mother." She explained. Lance shook his head at her disapprovingly. 
"I told you not to touch the phone." He repeated. 
"I didn't want her to worry and I missed her." Veronica said in a small child-like voice. She felt every bit of 18. She was reminded of their age difference and she felt like a stupid, innocent little girl. Lance looked his age too, which was 27. It was as if his anger made his face darker, older, and scarier. 
"You missed her?" He said mockingly. "You've been gone two hours tops. You can't possibly miss her." He said. But she did. Even more so now. She wished she was home. She wished she had never left. In that moment, she wished she could summon Dorothy's ruby red slippers, click her heels and go home. 

Veronica summoned every bit of strength she could muster. She closed the short distance between them. Lance withdrew slightly and looked at her with confusing eyes. Veronica reached out her hand and touched his arm with it. Silently willing him to calm down.
"Lance I'm sorry." She said. She forced herself to make and maintain eye contact with him. "Please forgive me." She said genuinely. Some of the anger left Lance's face. It was working, he was calming down. He sighed. 
"No.." He said. Veronica furrowed her brows sadly. No? She thought.
"Don't apologize." He added. His tone was returning to normal now. Gone was the roughness and anger. 
"Why not?" Veronica asked. 
"I overreacted. I am the one who's sorry." He replied. 

Hesitantly, Lance reached out for Veronica. She didn't flinch or shy away. He closed his hands over hers and kissed them. 
"I didn't mean to lose my cool with you." He said. She nodded. 
"I know." She replied almost automatically. 
"I just..I just want you to listen to me." He said. 
"I will." She replied. She was just so grateful he had calmed down. She had never seen anyone so angry before and she never wanted to see it again. Her heartbeat seemed to be relaxing too. 
"Let's go." He said. Veronica had opened her eyes. 
"Go?" She asked. Back home?..she thought. She still thought of her mother's place as home. 
"And call your mom. There is a pay phone not too far from here. We can walk there." He explained. 
"Oh." She replied. She then realized what he had said. She could call her mother. She didn't understand why she couldn't use the phone at their home, but she wouldn't push her luck. 
"Thank you." She said. He kissed her forehead in response. 

Lance gently let her hand go. He walked back to the door and picked up the groceries. He took all of two minutes to put the items away. He returned to Veronica who stood there waiting as if she needed to be told to move. 
"Come on." He said softly and smiled. She smiled back. He reached down and grabbed her hand and lead her out of the front door. She happily walked along side him. The walk was brief. They walked to a small store down the street and Lance gave her change to use the payphone. Barbara answered right away and was happy to hear her daughters voice. Veronica was happy to. She had told her mother she was fine and was settling in her new place. Barbara had offered to come over and help clean up or unpack. Veronica refused her offer when Lance shook his head even though she wanted to say yes. Lance was right, she'd be gone less than two hours, but she was missing home. She didn't want Lance to grow impatient so she let her mother go. She thanked him again for allowing her to call home and ease both of their minds and then they headed home. 

As they had reached their home. Veronica slacked back a bit. Lance was walking up to the door and reaching for the keys in his pocket. She stopped him when she threw her arms around him. He dropped his keys and turned his head to look at her. 
"What are you doing?" He asked. He didn't raise his voice though. Veronica shrugged.
"I don't know..I just. I'm grateful for this." She said. He chuckled. She kept saying thank you all through their walk. He told her she didn't have to, but she did anyways. She pecked him on the cheek and pulled away. He bent down and collected his dropped keys. 
"You're welcome." He said and opened the door. 

They entered the house. Veronica headed for the kitchen to prepare dinner. Lance split ways and headed to their bedroom. She wondered where he was going, but didn't ask. She didn't want to fight with him ever again. She would have to remind herself to behave. She couldn't afford to upset him like that again. Especially being here all alone with her family not even knowing where she lived. She vowed to be on her best behavior from here on out. Lance shut the door behind him. Followed by a clicking sound, he had locked the door as well. 

Lance waited until he heard the refrigerator door shut and pots moving before he took out his cell phone. He dialed a number and waited for it to ring. 

Somewhere across town, Daisy was playing with her daughter Natalie. She was tickling her stomach and enjoying watching the laughter her daughter rewarded her with. She smiled, but felt as if something was missing. Just as she was about to dismiss her thoughts, the phone rung. She kissed Natalie and placed her on the floor and allowed her to play with her toys. 

"Be back baby girl." Daisy said and went to answer the phone. It was nearing the fifth ring when she picked up.
"Hello?" She answered. 

"How's my second favorite girl?" The voice on the other end asked. 
"Second?" She repeated. "Lance..." Lance laughed, but was careful to keep his voice low. 
"Natalie holds first place you know that." He said. Daisy shook her head at him.
"Cute.." She said. "Hey what happened earlier today?" She asked. She remembered she tried calling and was greeted with the receiver being hung up in her face.
"What are you talking about?" Lance asked innocently. 
"I tried to call, but someone hung up on me." She answered and let a hint of her annoyance out. 
"Really?" He asked. "Beats me." He responded. 
"Someone picked up and hung up in my face! You have no idea who?" She said. She was getting angry. It was bad enough her husband was hardly home. She was happy to know she'd be able to get in contact with him, with him being in their old home preparing it to be sold. Or so she thought. 
"I just got here." He lied. "And calm down it's not good for your condition." He said softly. "Don't upset my baby boy." He joked. Daisy laughed. 
"Baby boy? No..Natalie wants a little sister. She insists." Daisy joked backed. 
"Is that so? Give her a kiss for me. I have to go." He said. Daisy sighed loud enough for him to hear.
"But you just called." Daisy complained. 
"And now I have to go. I'll be home before you know it." He said trying to cheer her up. He didn't want to get into that argument again. About him never being home. 
"I miss you. I need you here, we need you here." Daisy said sadly. 
"I have to go. Love you." He said and hung up. That ended that. He shook his head and placed his phone back into his pocket. 

***Okay I know my updates are SUPER short. I'm sorry. I picture them being longer, but when I write them I see they aren't. But I also like the short chapters. It allows me to focus on one thing at a time. Another reason is probably the pictures. In my mind they are so much better, I promise. But I guess that's where my failure lies, in picture taking. I love the sims and how you're able to capture the perfect moment with them. Well I don't have that down pact yet lol. But I hope you guys don't mind and I appreciate you all taking the time to read my story :)